Sandiṭṭhikadhammasutta — Sāmaññavagga — the fifth chapter of the Nines
Setting
Not restated; understood to continue from AN 9.45
Speakers
Venerable Udāyī questioning Venerable Ānanda
Form
The same template again, now at its most compressed: no extra criterion or descriptive phrase at any stage
Length
~30 seconds to read
The bare formula, stripped down further
Where AN 9.43-45 each added a specific criterion, this discourse simply names each attainment itself as qualifiedly or definitively ‘apparent in the present life’
Difficulty
★☆☆☆☆ — the briefest discourse in this chapter apart from the fully elided stubs
Why this discourse
Udāyī asks in what way the Buddha spoke of ‘a teaching apparent in the present life,’ and Ānanda answers with the bare nine-stage formula once more, this time with no further descriptive content: each of the first eight attainments is apparent in the present life in a qualified sense, and the ninth, definitively.
Reading guide
The teaching in one sentence
Reaching any of the nine progressive attainments is what the Buddha meant by ‘a teaching apparent in the present life’ — in a qualified sense at each of the first eight stages, and in a definitive sense only at the ninth, the cessation of perception and feeling.
A familiar phrase, usually applied more broadly
‘Sandiṭṭhika,’ apparent or visible in the present life, is one of the standard qualities praising the Dhamma as a whole elsewhere in the canon — well explained, immediately effective, inviting inspection. Here it is applied narrowly to the nine meditative attainments specifically, in keeping with this whole chapter's project of running familiar terms through the same nine-stage grid.
The template at its plainest
This discourse adds no descriptive content at any stage — no residual factor as at AN 9.42, no criterion of experience or wisdom as at AN 9.43 through AN 9.45. Simply reaching each attainment is what makes it ‘apparent in the present life,’ qualifiedly or definitively, the plainest possible version of this chapter's shared structure.
A bridge to the next discourse
This discourse's brevity sets up AN 9.47 directly: that next discourse simply adds ‘extinguishment’ to this discourse's ‘apparent in the present life,’ producing a compound term this chapter will continue exploring in variant forms through its remaining discourses.
Key terms
sandiṭṭhiko dhammo — “a teaching apparent in the present life” — this discourse's own title phrase, elsewhere a standard quality praising the Dhamma as a whole.
ettāvatāpi kho... vuttaṁ bhagavatā pariyāyena — “to this extent the Buddha spoke of... in a qualified sense” — the bare formula, repeated without added criteria at each of the first eight stages.
nippariyāyena — “in a definitive sense” — reserved for the ninth attainment, as throughout this chapter.
paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati — “enters and remains in the first absorption” — the opening stage, given here with no further descriptive addition.
saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ upasampajja viharati — “enters and remains in the cessation of perception and feeling” — the ninth and definitive stage, closing this discourse's brief structure.
The text
The discourse in full: the same nine-stage template at its plainest, with no descriptive content added at any stage. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
Apparent in the present life, at each of nine stages
§1“Reverend, they speak of ‘a teaching apparent in the present life’. In what way did the Buddha speak of a teaching apparent in the present life?” “First, take a mendicant who, quite secluded from sensual pleasures … enters and remains in the first absorption. To this extent the Buddha spoke of the teaching apparent in the present life in a qualified sense. …
§2Furthermore, take a mendicant who, going totally beyond the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, enters and remains in the cessation of perception and feeling. And, having seen with wisdom, their defilements come to an end. To this extent the Buddha spoke of the teaching apparent in the present life in a definitive sense.”
· · ·
Self-check quiz
6 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 6
What phrase does this discourse define?
Correct: B. Elsewhere in the canon, a standard quality praising the Dhamma as a whole.
Question 2 of 6
How does this discourse's formula compare to AN 9.43 through AN 9.45?
Correct: B. Simply reaching each attainment, with nothing further specified.
Question 3 of 6
Where else in the canon does ‘sandiṭṭhika’ commonly appear?
Correct: B. Applied here more narrowly, to the nine meditative attainments specifically.
Question 4 of 6
According to the guide, what does this discourse set up for AN 9.47?
Correct: B. A compound term this chapter continues exploring in variant forms.
Question 5 of 6
At which stage alone is a teaching apparent in the present life in a definitive sense?
Correct: C. The consistent ninth-stage pattern across this chapter.
Question 6 of 6
Who speaks in this discourse?
Correct: B. The same two speakers continuing through this chapter.
